World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesMalfunction
/mælˈfʌŋk.ʃən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A failure to function normally or properly.
"A computer malfunction caused the entire network to crash."
- 1
To fail to function properly.
"The automatic doors began to malfunction during the power outage."
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the combination of the Latin prefix 'mal-', meaning 'bad' or 'ill', and the English noun/verb 'function', which traces back to Latin 'functio' meaning 'performance' or 'execution'. The compound emerged in the mid-20th century alongside the rise of complex machinery and digital computing systems to specifically denote a failure to operate normally.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Malfunction"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Malfunction" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
dysfonctionnement
Transliteration: dysfonctionnement
"Un dysfonctionnement technique a retardé le vol."
Fehlfunktion
Transliteration: Fehlfunktion
"Die Fehlfunktion des Motors zwang die Piloten zur Landung."
malfunzionamento
Transliteration: malfunzionamento
"Il malfunzionamento del sistema ha bloccato i pagamenti."
mal funcionamiento
Transliteration: mal funcionamiento
"El mal funcionamiento del dispositivo sorprendió a los usuarios."
mau funcionamento
Transliteration: mau funcionamento
"O mau funcionamento da máquina parou a produção."
खराबी
Transliteration: kharabi
"मशीन में तकनीकी खराबी आ गई है।"
故障
Transliteration: gùzhàng
"系统出现故障，请稍后再试。"
오작동
Transliteration: ojakdong
"기계의 오작동으로 인해 사고가 발생했습니다."
誤動作
Transliteration: godōsa
"コンピューターの誤動作によりデータが消えました。"
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